A puppy was born in Akita Prefecture and sent as a gift to Professor Ueno of Tokyo University. Although professor's wife does not want keep the dog. Professor Ueno loves the puppy so much and names it Hachi. Professor goes to work by railways everyday. Hachi walks to Shibuya Station with Professor each morning and greets him in the evening, no matter what the weather is. One day, Professor Ueno has a stroke and passed away. His family sold the house and moved to another city, but Hachi keeps visiting the house and waiting at the Shibuya station, believing his master. Based on a true story of Hidesaburo Ueno and his Akita breed dog "Hachiko."

Reviews

This movie will touch your heart. And after this movie you will hug your cute pet (even when you don't have a dog).
Its so hard for me to review this movie, because you just need to watch this to understand. This is a real tearjerker and many more emotions you'll feel.
I really felt tired when I watched this movie because so many emotions where involved!

The actors & afcourse the dog were great, the story is amazing and is makes it more special because it really happened. The music made some scenes even more sad.

First and for most I want to highlight that this review is addressed in regards to the dog (HACHI) and not the actors. This is because i hardly acknowledged their parts, especially whenever Hachi was in the scene - I was totally mesmerised. From beginning to end I was not disappointed with the development of the movie. I mean they even show Hachi’s actual birth (or a dog that looks like him); clever introduction to the concept of capturing his entire life. The bond that develops between Hachi and his master Professor Ueno is so visible from the moment they meet that you cannot help but yearn and hope for a bond so pure of love. Professor Ueno treatment of Hachi with overwhelming love and Hachi’s replications of it by serving and loving him dearly so well portrayed by the movie. If only dogs could understand how great of an actor they were because the dog or dogs used in this movie were outstanding. Especially the older one - the funeral scene mixed with the tears of the wife, I myself got teary eyed watching and hearing Hachi’s mourning cry.

I figure that it may have taken a lot of takes to get the dogs to react the way they guided them to. Whoever held this responsibility truly had an eye for dog capability and behaviour because the end product is so amazing and captivating of their emotions that as a viewer you left feeling human emotions towards Hachi.

LIKED: I greatly enjoyed the scenes that involved Hachi and the professor, even those at his funeral.
DISLIKED: I would have liked if Hachi’s story was portrayed exactly as want had happened to the real dog because after doing my own research of how Hachi really lived. The untold parts would have made this movie even more outstanding

CONCLUSION:
If you are looking for a good family or HEARTWARMING movie Hocahiko Monogatari will not disappoint unless you are not a dog fan. You should also watch this movie if you enjoy genres such as TRUE STORIES - ADMIRATION – FAMILY – LOYALTY – LEGEND – TRAGEDY – FAITHFULNESS – DOGS – MAN’S BESTFRIEND – AKITA DOG BREED – MELODRAMA – SADNESS – FAITHFULNESS – LOVE – GREAT ACTING DIRECTION.